AWD Mod?
#1
AWD Mod?
I don't know if this exists nor do I know if it would be feasible to do on a TL, but does anyone make/install an AWD modification for a TL or any other car for that matter? I was sitting around and thinking about it, it would probably a decent amount and certainly some time and effort, just wondering if anyone had ever heard of anything like this...
#4
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Originally Posted by EmuMessenger
Say good bye to your trunk and probably most of the seating compartment unless you put a lift kit on your car.
#5
Team Owner
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The biggest problem is that since the TL platform is not currently designed to work with AWD, you would need to find a location for the driveshaft to pass through under the body. This might involve completely refabricating the floorpans in order to provide sufficient clearance for an AWD system.
Your best bet is to just buy a car that comes with AWD. If you're really interested in it, I'm sure it can be done with enough effort, but it's going to be A LOT of time, effort, and money for a mod that will add weight and not provide you with much gain.
Your best bet is to just buy a car that comes with AWD. If you're really interested in it, I'm sure it can be done with enough effort, but it's going to be A LOT of time, effort, and money for a mod that will add weight and not provide you with much gain.
#6
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Creating an AWD TL in 3 easy steps
1. Remove badging from existing car
2. Purchase RL
3. Replace RL badging with TL badging (see step 1)
POOF AWD
Please note that I have not tested this directly, but am fairly positive you would have an AWD TL.
(sorry couldn't resist)
On the serious side I doubt you will find this modification cost effective. The warranty ramifications alone are staggering (i.e. say goodbye). Also in regards to safety (especially with home grown conversion kits) I would really question if it was worth it.
I envision Acura will see the light and release an AWD version of the TL eventually, but it won't be for at least 2 more years.
1. Remove badging from existing car
2. Purchase RL
3. Replace RL badging with TL badging (see step 1)
POOF AWD
Please note that I have not tested this directly, but am fairly positive you would have an AWD TL.
(sorry couldn't resist)
On the serious side I doubt you will find this modification cost effective. The warranty ramifications alone are staggering (i.e. say goodbye). Also in regards to safety (especially with home grown conversion kits) I would really question if it was worth it.
I envision Acura will see the light and release an AWD version of the TL eventually, but it won't be for at least 2 more years.
#7
the amount of money you would need to spend to design and fabricate such a system would be pretty crazy. why not just get an awd car right from the start? i mean this is no little task, this is a pretty large engineering feat. there are plenty of cars that are similar to the TL that already have awd in it.
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#8
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(all of above)
It would be an unbelievable consumption of money and time, and at the end you wont even know if everything will work out right. Subject of changing a fwd to awd or rwd doesnt come up much because of all the reasons stated in the prior posts.
Wait two or three years for Acura to produce a TL with shawd
It would be an unbelievable consumption of money and time, and at the end you wont even know if everything will work out right. Subject of changing a fwd to awd or rwd doesnt come up much because of all the reasons stated in the prior posts.
Wait two or three years for Acura to produce a TL with shawd
#9
Drifting
I've seen crazier things... Like people swapping in LS1 V8 engines in their FWD car, or converting their FWD to RWD. It can be done, given the right amount of dough.
Granted though, the GM guys might have it a little easier... Because GM makes a special AWD version of it's corporate FWD transaxle, for Volvo. So it's probably a bolt on tranny. I also know they did the conversion, by removing the exhaust, and routing a carbon fiber drive shaft in the exhaust tunnel, and then fabricating a custom exhaust.
What's craziest of crazy, is this Cadillac I remember seeing on Car & Driver TV. They converted their FWD to AWD, by mounting another Northstar V8 in the TRUNK!
Granted though, the GM guys might have it a little easier... Because GM makes a special AWD version of it's corporate FWD transaxle, for Volvo. So it's probably a bolt on tranny. I also know they did the conversion, by removing the exhaust, and routing a carbon fiber drive shaft in the exhaust tunnel, and then fabricating a custom exhaust.
What's craziest of crazy, is this Cadillac I remember seeing on Car & Driver TV. They converted their FWD to AWD, by mounting another Northstar V8 in the TRUNK!
#10
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Originally Posted by avs007
I've seen crazier things... Like people swapping in LS1 V8 engines in their FWD car, or converting their FWD to RWD. It can be done, given the right amount of dough.
Granted though, the GM guys might have it a little easier... Because GM makes a special AWD version of it's corporate FWD transaxle, for Volvo. So it's probably a bolt on tranny. I also know they did the conversion, by removing the exhaust, and routing a carbon fiber drive shaft in the exhaust tunnel, and then fabricating a custom exhaust.
What's craziest of crazy, is this Cadillac I remember seeing on Car & Driver TV. They converted their FWD to AWD, by mounting another Northstar V8 in the TRUNK!
Granted though, the GM guys might have it a little easier... Because GM makes a special AWD version of it's corporate FWD transaxle, for Volvo. So it's probably a bolt on tranny. I also know they did the conversion, by removing the exhaust, and routing a carbon fiber drive shaft in the exhaust tunnel, and then fabricating a custom exhaust.
What's craziest of crazy, is this Cadillac I remember seeing on Car & Driver TV. They converted their FWD to AWD, by mounting another Northstar V8 in the TRUNK!
#11
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Some people have done AWD conversions in 3rd generation Integra's using Realtime 4WD from Civic wagons.
#12
Drifting
Originally Posted by ONAGER
volvo is owned by ford.... i dont think there is a whole lot of part swapping going on in this area
And FWIW, GM and Ford are collaborating on a 6 speed automatic. (Not the one in the Ford 500, that is a different tranny altogether)
#13
Burning Brakes
It's possible, but would be extremely expensive. Acura has the benefit of mass production to keep the parts cost low. As an individual purchaser, I can only guess it would cost several thousand (not including modification of your TL and labor).
#15
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Originally Posted by avs007
What's craziest of crazy, is this Cadillac I remember seeing on Car & Driver TV. They converted their FWD to AWD, by mounting another Northstar V8 in the TRUNK!
#16
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Originally Posted by ITL
I remember that! They also had to move the rear axle back to make room for that second Northstar!
The car is developed by Mosler, the people who make the MT900
Warren Mosler is one crazy SOB, but he makes some crazy cool cars.
#17
Interesting thought...
The MDX is based off the Accord/TL chassis so a rear diff exists that could be used.
But, definitely the transmission would need to be replaced/modified to provide the power takeoff for the rear diff. Part of the spare tire well would have to go to make room for the diff. The rear suspension would have to be substantially modified to make room for the half shafts to drive the wheels. The exhaust modified to make room for the drive shaft. And a whole lot of other detail changes would have to be made.
It would probably be cheaper to buy an RL or wait for Honda to bring the Accord/TSX 4WD version over here from Nippon (but you'd have live with a 2.0 engine instead of the 2.4 - Yes Virginia, there is an 4WD version of the Accord/TSX sold in Japan, it's listed on the Japan website).
But, definitely the transmission would need to be replaced/modified to provide the power takeoff for the rear diff. Part of the spare tire well would have to go to make room for the diff. The rear suspension would have to be substantially modified to make room for the half shafts to drive the wheels. The exhaust modified to make room for the drive shaft. And a whole lot of other detail changes would have to be made.
It would probably be cheaper to buy an RL or wait for Honda to bring the Accord/TSX 4WD version over here from Nippon (but you'd have live with a 2.0 engine instead of the 2.4 - Yes Virginia, there is an 4WD version of the Accord/TSX sold in Japan, it's listed on the Japan website).
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